South Africa is on the list of places to visit before it’s too late. The list created by Friendly Planet Travel, and announced on November 19, 2015, stated that it’s imperative to visit South Africa and go on a safari to see the elephants, because they are seriously threatened by relentless poaching.

A study published in 2014 found that 100,000 African elephants had been poached in the continent of Africa in a three year period. There is an international ban on the trade of ivory, but it is still sought after, and elephants are killed for their tusks. According to WWF Global, the ban was introduced in 1989 by theĀ Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

There is a demand for the ivory is in Asia. The elephants are continued to be poached due to the inability to enforce laws and corruption, among other reasons.

Other areas on the list of places to visit are:

  • Cuba
  • Myanmar (Burma)
  • Greece
  • Patagonia

Travelers who would like to see the elephants in South Africa should visit an elephant park or reserve like the Addo Elephant National Park. The park has over 600 elephants. It also acts as a reserve for lions, buffalo, rhinos, leopards and other animals.

 

Elephants at Addo Elephant National Park, photo by Brian Snelson